Vietnam, Republic of Korea eye effective environment cooperation

The scene of the 13th Vietnam-RoK ministerial-level environment meeting. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The environment ministries of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) agreed to renew the way they cooperate to improve the quality of their cooperation at their 13th ministerial-level meeting in Hanoi on March 29.

At the meeting, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said Vietnam is entering a new period of development focusing on restructuring its economy based on quality growth and environmental protection. He noted that the RoK, now one of Vietnam’s leading strategic partners, has many experiences to share with Vietnam in this matter.

On the cooperation in 2017 – 2020 between the two ministries, Ha proposed working together in building and perfecting tools, technical and economic solutions, such as designing plans on environmental protection, climate change and green growth.

Specific cooperative activities could be research on local-level environmental ranking, environmental standards and criteria; waste management; verification and approval of environmental impact assessment reports; and the building of a national environmental observation system.

The two sides should join hands to develop investment projects in the form of public-private to serve the green growth goal, the minister said.

RoK Minister of Environment Cho Kyeung Kyu expressed his wish to increase cooperation on biological diversity, such as conducting joint research on useful species to promote biotechnological industry and biodiversity preservation.

The two sides also sought cooperation in waste-to-power projects.

The RoK agreed to help Vietnam complete policies facilitating law enforcement in the environment field, focusing on reviewing technical standards on waste water, emissions and solid waste, and basic standards on the environment.

The two sides reached consensus on promoting specific partnerships in biodiversity, including the building of a database and training for workers at Vietnam’s national parks. -VNA